America’s Trump threatens France with 200% wine tariffs

Bottles of French wine are displayed for sale in a liquor store. (Photo by: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs of up to 200% on French wine and champagne after French President Emmanuel Macron declined to join a U.S.-backed initiative described by Trump as a Gaza “Board of Peace.” The warning marks a sharp escalation in rhetoric between Washington and Paris, linking trade pressure directly to diplomatic alignment.

Trump framed the proposed tariffs as a response to what he described as France’s refusal to support a U.S.-led peace framework, signalling a readiness to use economic leverage against close allies. French officials have not announced any immediate retaliatory measures, but Paris has previously warned against the politicisation of trade.

The threat has rattled exporters and raised concerns within the European Union about renewed transatlantic trade tensions, particularly in sensitive agricultural sectors. Any move to impose such duties would likely trigger legal and political pushback within global trade forums.